Shirt collar support and protector



(W. 26, 1935. v ooKs ET AL.

SHIRT COLLAR SUPPORT AND PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 10, 1935 INVENTORJ a m 0 ARL 1 BA 7 .H 0 Em R fl M Aww A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,022,401 SHIRT COLLAR SUPPORT ANDPROTECTOR Alfred .1. Brooks, Jamaica Plain, and Elizabeth A. Laskey,Andover, Mass.; said Laskey assignor to said Brooks Application January10, 1933, Serial No. 651,018

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to devices for supporting and maintaining insubstantially uncrumpled condition the collar portions ofcollar-attached shirts while they are not being worn. Such devices areemployed by progressive laundries to maintain shirts in unwrinkledcondition until they are finally returned to their wearers, butobviously they may be used by manufacturers in packing new shirts or bytravellers in packing extra shirts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter above specified which is relatively inexpensive to manufactureand exceedingly simple to manipulate and apply, so as to obviate thenecessity for skilled operators.

Another object is to provide such a device which will not require thatthe top or collar button of the shirt be fastened, thus greatlyfacilitating the unwrapping operation.

A further object is to provide such a device which when inserted intoplace about the shirt collar automatically brings the parts of thecollar into their proper positions to be supported and protected againstwrinkling, thus obviating the necessity for adjusting or handling theflaps of the collar.

Additional objects as well as the portions of the combination whichrender the objects possible of accomplishment will appear as thedescription proceeds.

Referring to the drawing:--

Figure l is a plan view of a preferred form of collar support whichembodies the essential features of our invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of a folded shirt illustratingv one manner ofapplying the device of Figure l thereto.

Referring more specifically to the drawing and particularly Figure 1thereof, the device of our invention is indicated generally by thereference letter B. The device is shown as having the general form ofthe letter Y, the vertical stem thereof being denoted by the referencenumeral I and the two branches or bifurcations of the upper end beingdenoted by the characters 2 and 3 respectively. The vertical stem l isshown provided with a zig-zag slit extending for a substantial portionof its length and also with the set of oppositely disposed projections 5and 6 and the set of oppositely disposed notches l and 8, all forpurposes which will hereinafter appear.

The two branches or bifurcations 2 and 3 of the upper end of the deviceare shown as being substantially perpendicular to each other (see thedot and dash lines in Figure 1). Their outer or opposite edges are shownas being substantially straight lines and their inner or facing edgesare curved outwardly to form the bulges 9 and ID for a purpose to behereinafter pointed out. The outer ends II and I2 of the bifurca- 5tions are shown rounded off into the straight outer edges while theinner ends of the curves 9 and H] are joined together in a reentrantcurve I3.

A few words concerning the functions of the 10 various parts of thedevice will, it is believed, aid in the understanding of the device andthe manner in which it is intended to be used. The bifurcated or upperend 2, 3 is adapted to fit about the front of the collar C of the shirtS (see 'Fig- 15 ure 2) between the flaps F and the collar-band thereof.The stem l of the blank is eminently suited to serve as a convenienthandle in manipulating the device. It is adapted to extend along thecenter line of the front of the shirt S and is 20 of sufficient lengthto cover the first bosom button (i. e. second button) of the shirt. Thezigzag slit 4 is adapted to be spread apart as shown in Figure 2 toreceive and clamp the first bosom button I4. The slit is advantageouslymade of 25 considerable-length as the position of the first bosom buttonmay vary in the various types, styles and sizes of shirts with which thedevice may be used. Furthermore, the length of the slit facilitates itsopening. The bifurcations 2 30 and 3 are fashioned, as has beenexplained, with the outward bulges 9 and I0 so that as the device isslid into place the flanges of the collar are drawn together. Thisfeature together with the fact that the device is attached to the shirtby the second button makes it possible to leave the first buttonunfastened. This is an advantage of considerable importance as the firstor collar button of the shirt is always the most difficult to unbuttonin a new or laundered shirt. The oppositely disposed prongs 5 and 6 andthe notches l and 8 may be utilized when the devices or blanks are tiedin large quantities to facilitate the tying operation.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be clear that thedevices may be stamped or punched out in a single blanking operationfrom a relatively stiff material such as paper, cardboard, vulcanizedfiber, celluloid, etc. However, since this type of device is used onlyonce and low cost is therefore a very important consideration, we preferto employ a comparatively inexpensive material such as cardboard.

In Figure 2 we have illustrated one manner of using the device. Theblank B is simply slid with its bifurcated end about the front of thecollar C under the flaps F until the bulges 9 and I contact the crease(shown in dotted lines) between the collar-band and flaps of the collar.This action causes the flanges of the collar to be brought and kept inproper position even though the top or collar button has been leftundone. The sides of the slit 4 are then spread-apart (see hands H inFigure 2) to clamp the first bosom button M. This final step serves toretain the device in permanent position (i. e. until the shirt is used)so as to support the collar C and prevent its being crumpled or mussedwhile it is packed with other shirts or apparel. In the drawing, thedevice is being shown attached to an already folded shirt, but it isobvious that the device may be applied before the shirt has been folded.Likewise, if desired the collar of the shirt need not be folded downflat but may be set up in an upright position.

To summarize, the device of the present invention has at least thefollowing advantages:It is very simple in construction and may bemanufactured, especially in large quantities, at a very small cost. Itssize is such as to render it convenient to handle. Its constructionrenders it unnecessary to fasten the top button of the shirt. Its mannerof application to a shirt is especially simple, as its structure enablesit to be slid into proper position for protecting the collar Withoutrequiring any handling or adjustment of the flaps of the collar. Itkeeps the collar fiat and smooth, giving support where it is mostneeded; i. e. along both sides of the collar, preventing what is knownas break-over at the top button. In

addition, use of the device more than doubles the number of shirts whichmay be packed into a box of given size without unduly rurnpling thecollars.

Having described our invention with the particularity and exactnessrequired by the patent statutes and having therefore used specificlanguage and terms, it is to be understood that the description isillustrative of the invention rather than restrictive and that theinvention is to be limited solely by the following claims, which aremade a part of this application, and in which we intend to claim allnovelty inherent in our invention which is permissible in View of theprior art.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting and maintainingin substantially uncrumpled condition the collar of a collar-attached.shirt while it is not being worn, said device consisting of a blank ofthin sheet material having the general shape of a Y, the upper orbifurcated end of said Y having the adjacent or facing edges thereofdiverging from each other, said bifurcated end of said Y being adaptedto fit about the front portion of said collar between the flaps and theneck-band thereof and the vertical branch of said Y being provided witha slit for detachably securing said blank to the first bosom button ofsaid shirt, thus obviating the necessity of buttoning the first buttonof said shirt. 5

2. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting and maintainingin substantially uncrumpled condition the collar of a collar-attachedshirt While it is not being worn, which device does not require thebuttoning of the first button of said shirt, said device consisting of ablank of thin sheet material having the general shape of a Y, thevertical stem of said Y being adapted to serve as a handle formanipulating said device and being provided with a vertical slit ofsufiicient length to serve for detachable attachment of the device tothe first bosom button of a wide range of shirts and the twobifurcations of said Y being disposed to each other at substantiallyright angles, the adjacent or facing edges of said bifurcationsdiverging from each other and each being provided with an outward bulgewhereby when said bifurcations are slipped in around the front of thecollar between the flaps and collar-band thereof, the flanges of said001- lar will be drawn together.

3. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting and maintainingin substantially uncrumpled condition the collar of a collar-attachedshirt while it is not being worn, said device having an upper bifurcatedportion to fit about the front portion of said collar between the flapsand the neck-band thereof and being provided with a slit in position toserve for attaching said device to a bosom button of the shirt, the twobifurcations of said bifurcated portion having their inner or adjacentedges diverging from each other and being provided with an outward bulgeon their inner or adjacent edges so that when the bifurcated portion isinserted into position about g the front of the collar between the flapsand the collar-band the fianges of the collar are drawn together, thusobviating the necessity of buttoning the first button of said shirt.

4. As an article of manufacture, a device for supporting and maintainingin substantially uncrumpled condition the collar of a collar-attachedshirt while it is not being worn, said device consisting of a blank ofthin sheet material having the general shape of a Y, the upper orbifurcated end of said Y having the adjacent or facing edges thereofdiverging from each other, said bifurcated end of said Y being adaptedto fit about the front portion of said collar between the'flaps and theneck-bandthereof and the vertical stem of said Y being provided withmeans for detachably securing said blank to a portion of said shirt at apoint below the first button of said shirt.

ALFRED J. BROOKS. ELIZABETH A. LASKEY.

